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Concerto for two oboes, two clarinets and strings in C major, RV559

Introduction

Both the concertos in C, RV559 and RV560, begin with a slow introduction before breaking into an energetic Allegro. Vivaldi treats the solo instruments as opposite pairs, echoing and imitating each other, and also as a concertino group, contrasting and combining with the string section. Alongside their lyrical qualities Vivaldi also utilizes the trumpet-like quality which both instruments are able to produce to suitably celebratory effect. The pastoral slow movement of RV559 is scored just for the four wind instruments, omitting even the continuo line: the slow movement of RV560 omits the clarinets and gives the strings a simple unison line over which the two oboes weave an elegant melody. Both concertos conclude with triumphant fast movements, with particularly fine harmonic progressions in the middle section of RV559.